Rattrap



G. J. HOUSTON Dee. s, 195o RATTRAP Filed Jan. 25. 1947 12 IIIIII A-rrnRN EYB Patented Dec. 5, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in animal traps, and moreparticularly to the provision of a novel type of rat trap.

It is an object of the invention to provide in a rat trap a trippingdevice which quickly releases a spring controlled member When a rat ormouse touches bait in the trap.

A further object is the provision of a tripping device which is simpleand easily constructed, the device being adapted to be applied tostandard types of rat traps.

A further object is to provide a tripping device for rat traps which canbe adjusted to regulate the sensitivity thereof.

These and other objects are attained by the novel construction andarrangement of parts hereinafter described and illustrated by theaccompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a rat trap embodying the invention in setposition.

Fig. 2 4is a side view of the trap in Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the trap with the clip in position for thesetting of the trap.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the bait holder.

Referring to the drawings, the rat trap is shown to comprise a base I,preferably made of wood or the like, and having secured thereto the legs2 of a coiled spring 3 of a type generally used in rat traps. The spring3 has arms 4 which pass through loops in a wire member 6, the loopsbeing designated by the numeral 5. The

wire member 9, which is rectangular is formed L of a single piece ofwire, with a side passing through the spring 3, and the ends of the wirewound together as shown at 8.

A threaded bolt 9 passes through the base I and has its upper end bentas shown at I0, and receiving a threaded nut II. A bait holder l2 has athreaded aperture I3 by means of which the holder can be freelyrotatably mounted on the bolt 9. The holder I2 has an outwardlyprojecting hook Ill and two hooks I5 on the sides thereof to hold bait.At the opposite end, the holder has a pair of spaced prongs I6 which actas a guide for trigger rod I1, which is held by a loop I8 in a wellknown manner.

The spring has a loop I9 as is usual with such springs, and at the endof the base I is a clip 20 pivoted at 2| and having a recess 22 in whicha screw 2| is adapted to iit. The clip 20 is dcsigned to hold the wiremember 6 While the trigger rod I1 is being adjusted under the nut II.After which the clip is returned to the position shown in Fig. 2.

In operation, the bait is placed on the hooks I4 and I5, and the nut IIadjusted. The trigger rod I1 is inserted under the nut and the clipreturned to the position shown in Fig. 2. When a rat or mouse touchesthe bait the holder I 2 moves freely about the bolt 9. This will causethe trigger rod Il to move either to the right or left. The nut I I willthen move freely in either direction until the upward pressure of therod I1 will cause the nut to moveto a position where the rod will morerapidly move the nut from engagement with the trigger rod Il, and thusreleasing the wire member 6, the latter being thrown violently upon therodent by the spring 3.

It Will be seen that there has been provided a simple and effective rattrap, in which is included a quick acting tripping device associatedwith a bait holder. The device is of simple structure and can be easilyadjusted and manipulated.

The above description is to be considered as illustrative and notlimitative of the invention of which modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit as set forth in the appended claims.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is:

1. In a rat trap, a base, a bolt passing through the base and having itsupper end bent at right angles and threaded, a nut threaded on the boltupper end, a bait holder threadedly mounted on the bolt, said holderhaving bait receiving hooks, a spring controlled wire member, a triggerrod adapted to engage the nut to hold the wire member in a cockedposition, and a clip to hold the wire member while the trigger rod isbeing adjusted.

2. In a rat trap, a base, a bolt held by the base and having its upperend bent at right angles and threaded, a nut on the upper end, a baitholder having an aperture through which the bolt passes, said holderbeing threaded on the bolt, a spring controlled wire member and atrigger rod pivotally mounted on the base, said rod having one endadapted to engage the nut.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2 further characterized by the baitholder having at one end upturned hooks to receive bait and at its otherend upturned spaced prongs to act as a guide for the trigger rod.

4. The structure set forth in claim 2, wherein said spring controlledWire member is held by the trigger rod, and a pivotally mounted clip isprovided to hold the wire member in position while the trigger rod isbeing adjusted.

GEORGE J. HOUSTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the f' fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,665,951 Ebel Apr. 10, 19281,897,151 Seghers Feb. 14, 1933

